Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado Gives Her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump

A dramatic and symbolic moment unfolded at the White House on January 15, 2026, when Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump. Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote democracy and oppose the regime of Nicolás Maduro, described the gesture as a tribute to Trump’s perceived role in advancing freedom in her country and region.

Controversial Peace Prize Gesture at the White House

In photos shared by the White House and in statements from Machado’s team, the framed medal was described as a “personal symbol of gratitude … in recognition of President Trump’s principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela.”

What Machado Said About Her Gesture

After spending more than an hour in a closed-door meeting with Trump, Machado emerged to greet supporters outside the White House. She confirmed she had “presented the Nobel Peace Prize medal” to the president, though she stopped short of claiming he officially now holds the prestigious honor. Machado said the presentation was meant to echo a historical anecdote: two centuries ago, General Lafayette presented Simón Bolívar with a medal to signify solidarity between U.S. and Venezuelan freedoms.

“We can count on President Trump,” Machado told cheering supporters, prompting chants of “Thank you, Trump.”

Machado’s comments to reporters and on social platforms framed the medal presentation as an acknowledgment of Trump’s “unique commitment to our freedom” and as a gesture of respect between leaders fighting for democratic change.

Trump Responds and Calls Gesture “Wonderful”

President Trump took to Truth Social after the meeting to thank Machado and describe her gesture as a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect.” Trump wrote that it was his “great honor” to meet Machado, calling her a “wonderful woman who has been through so much.”

Though Trump has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize — and publicly voiced disappointment when Machado won it — he accepted Machado’s gift of the framed medal and praised her leadership.

However, Trump has also expressed doubts about Machado’s political viability in governing Venezuela. He has shown openness to engaging with Delcy Rodríguez, the interim leader installed after Maduro’s capture, signalling a complicated relationship with the opposition leader.

Nobel Committee: Prize Itself Is Not Transferable

Despite the symbolic ceremony, the Norwegian Nobel Institute made clear that a Nobel Peace Prize cannot be legally transferred, shared, or reassigned after it is awarded. This clarification came after Machado suggested earlier in January that she might give the prize to Trump for his perceived contributions toward peace and democracy in her homeland.

The Nobel Committee emphasized that once a Peace Prize is announced, the decision is final and binding — though medals themselves can physically change hands, the title of Nobel laureate cannot.

Background: Machado’s Prize and Venezuela’s Political Struggle

Machado, a longtime critic of Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian rule, was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her role in uniting opposition factions and advocating nonviolent, democratic change in Venezuela. She has spent much of the past year in hiding due to political threats and was unable to receive the award in person at the original ceremony; her daughter accepted on her behalf in Norway.

The peace prize announcement was seen as a boost for Venezuelan opposition forces and a rebuke to the Maduro regime, which has faced international criticism for undermining free elections and civil liberties. Machado’s advocacy for elections and democratic transition has been a central part of her global profile.

What This Means for U.S.–Venezuela Relations

The medal presentation comes at a fraught moment in U.S.–Venezuela relations, amid ongoing efforts to establish democratic governance after the removal of Maduro and installation of interim leadership. While Machado sought to solidify U.S. backing — including support from Trump — the administration’s embrace of interim President Delcy Rodríguez complicates her political aspirations.

Supporters of Machado’s gesture saw it as an attempt to strengthen diplomatic ties and affirm shared democratic goals. Critics, however, view it as a symbolic but practically limited diplomatic maneuver — especially given the Nobel Committee’s assertion that prizes cannot be legally transferred.

You might also want to read: U.S. Military Strikes in Venezuela Lead to Capture of Nicolás Maduro